fitness Archives - Serendipity Mommy

Workout Tips for Moms Stuck at Home

May 14, 2020 by Mandy

It’s tough being stuck at home with the kids. Your time isn’t your own anymore, and you barely have time for a shower, let alone a workout. So here are a few tips to help you squeeze a workout in at home.

Short, But Effective

You don’t need to find time to workout for a whole hour. Just grab 10 minutes here and there. Make the time count by doing a targeted workout, and working on one area of your body, instead of all over. For example, if you want to tone up your legs, try doing some quick inner thigh exercises like these ones from the 30 Day Fitness Challenge app.

Go for a Walk

The kids need exercise too, so go for a walk with them. It doesn’t have to be far, but even walking around the block will get you all moving and out of the house.

Distract the Kids

Persuade the kids to play in the garden, and get your workout in at the same time. You should get at least 15-20 minutes to yourself, so make the most of it and complete your workout for the day.

Play with the Kids

Playing games with your kids can be great exercise, and can really get your heart pumping. Run around the garden with them, get on their trampoline, or put some music on and dance around with them. This won’t only be good for you, but your kids will benefit too.

Involve Your Kids

Set a time each day to do some exercises with your kids. Make them fun so your kids will want to join in, and get your workout done at the same time. Star jumps are always popular with the kids. Think of a silly phrase to shout out when you’re all jumping. Squats are another great idea for kids. See who can squat down the lowest, or who can do the most in a minute.

Mini Workouts

Fit in a mini workout whenever you can, even when you’re doing chores. Keep a stool in the kitchen when cooking dinner, and do some step-ups whilst you’re waiting for the food to be ready. When picking your kids toys up to put them away, crawl along the floor on your stomach, as this will be great for your abs. If you have a young kid, lie on your back and lift them up for an airplane ride. Fun for them and a great workout for you.

Those are just some of the ways you can still enjoy a workout whilst taking care of the kids. What workout tips do you have, and what do you find helps you maintain your fitness whilst at home?

Choosing Active Wear to Prepare for Your Next Adventure Destination

March 16, 2020 by Mandy

Has someone ever told you to dress the part? What you wear matters, whether you’re going to work, exercising or partaking in some general activities outside. You want to wear clothing that will influence how you perform, how you feel and help bring your body to the next level. When shopping for athletic wear, how do you pick something you can wear for any active occasion? What are some of the traits that can help you better prepare for the road ahead?

Clothing that Provides a Confidence Boost

One of the first keys to activewear and finding something for every occasion is to go with clothing that gives you a confidence boost. After all, you want to feel good about what you’re wearing. And when you’re comfortable and proud of the way you look, your performance will also increase with that confidence boost.

One of the more prominent clothing options in the activewear space includes women’s sleeveless shirts or tank tops. These, along with athletic pants or shorts, will allow you to go anywhere and do anything, and let you be as confident and comfortable as possible.

Clothing that Provides Protection and Injury Prevention

Another thing to keep in mind when you’re working toward finding the perfect activewear for any location or occasion is to go with something that will help protect you from injury. When you have equipment with a proper fit, it can help to reduce the risk of any sports-related injuries.

Wearing sleeveless shirts or tank tops, for example, can help free your body to move the way it needs to. Conversely, if you’re visiting somewhere in the cold, you may want a long-sleeved base layer to help you stay warm. The shoes that you go with can also play a big role in injury prevention and protecting your muscles, such as your calves, ankles and feet. Proper footwear with the right fit and perfect amount of support can help set you up for success.

Clothing that Helps Aid in Recovery

If you’re going with activewear for your next journey or adventure, you also want something that can help you in the recovery space. This means having clothing that will not only allow you to perform but also get you ready for the next adventure you have on deck. One of the better ways to do this is with the assistance of compression clothing.

Compression clothing works to help stimulate circulation in the body. It’s a type of effect you get when you get a massage. With the enhancement of your circulation, you have blood flow pumping that can help to recover those muscles faster. The next day you may feel less sore, less stiff and be ready to go at it again for the next adventure.

Be Mindful of What You Wear

Activewear can be perfect for any destination and occasion. Whether you’re taking a trip to the beach or going for a hike up a mountain, the right activewear can help you perform and enjoy the day that much more. The next time you plan an adventure, think about your clothing and how it can help benefit your experience. With the right activewear, with the proper fit, you can perform better, protect yourself and be ready to recover efficiently for each day ahead.

Why You Should Start Boxing

November 13, 2019 by Mandy

Boxing training has become on of the most popular fitness regimes today. In fact, many celebrities and models are choosing this mode of training as their preferred workout. Here are the top reasons why you too should start boxing to develop your character, skills and leadership,

Full-Body Workout

The general belief is that boxing is an upper-body workout. However, this is not true. Boxing training gives you a total body workout and helps sculpt all your muscles. So, when you are extending your arm to deliver a punch, you are using power from your legs and hips, and are also strengthening your core, back and shoulders in the process.

Improvement in Multiple Parameters

Boxing doesn’t just give you a full-body workout where you focus on your cardio and strength. It also improves your balance, agility, reactivity and hand-eye coordination. Which means that your overall fitness improves.

A boxing workout also helps improve your posture. As your core and back get stronger, your posture will start straightening out too.

Burn Calories Fast

The two main things that boxing training does is improve your resting heart rate and your muscular endurance. This means that your stamina increases and your heart rate goes down. What this does is help you in your other workouts.

If you do a boxing training session for just 30 minutes, you can easily burn 400 calories, which compares to any other intense cardio session such as cycling or even running.

Better Body Composition

The focus of a workout should not be to lose weight. It should be to improve your body composition. This means that you increase your muscle mass and reduce your fat mass. Weight loss should be a by-product of this goal.

And boxing is a great way to improve your muscle mass.

Stress Reliever

If you start boxing, you will be able to expel all your stress like never before! According to professional trainers, boxing training gives you more stress relief than any other workout there is. It will help you calm down faster than any other form of exercise.

Constant Learning Process

Boxing is such a discipline that you will never stop learning. While other fitness routines can end up becoming boring (because there isn’t left to learn), with boxing you have to constantly stay alert. There are so many techniques in boxing that it will take you a lifetime to learn them all.

The Downside of Boxing

This is a discipline that requires strength and endurance, but it isn’t for everyone. Because, at the end of the day, it is a contact sport, there are dangers associated with this type of a workout.

So, if you have arthritis or osteoarthritis of the hands, then the most you can do is shadow-boxing. If you make contact with a target, you could end up making your condition worse.

Added to that, since it is a cardio workout, you should avoid this form of exercise if you have a heart condition.

Those with medical conditions should first consult with their doctors before taking up boxing training.

Tips To Achieve Your Fitness Goals!

May 15, 2019 by Mandy

Working out and getting in shape for health or for competitions can be a daunting process to say the least. Starting out in your fitness journey is probably the hardest time when you have to adapt to a new way of life, exercise and eating. Getting in shape is both challenging but extremely rewarding with a lot of ways you can start slowly and build your way up to your goals. Want to get started but not sure how? Check out these great weight loss and fitness tips so you can get started on the road to your goals today.

Starting Small

Starting off small when you’re working toward a fitness goal of any kind is important. You don’t want to go too full into it and stress yourself out. After all, the key to weight loss and fitness goals is prolonged and steady changes over a period of time, culiminating in a full lifestyle change. You often don’t get people going from eating take out and junk food with no exercise to being exercise gurus and health freaks overnight. Start small by eliminating one “bad” thing per week or month – desserts, alcohol, junk food etc. Take note of what you eliminate and the changes it has on your body. You might be surprised at the way your weight drops when you eliminate or reduce something you eat a lot of.

Avoid Fad Diets

Fad diets like the cabbage soup diet, keto and intermittent fasting have their places, but if you want prolonged and sustainable weight loss and fitness that will last for years, if not for life, you need to avoid the fads. Quick drops in weight are not sustainable. Instead try opting for different kinds of fitness meals to gain muscle instead of fat, helping you to tone up and slim down, leading you to a better, more healthy lifestyle overall. Many diets don’t work because people struggle with binging after periods of denying themselves different types of foods, but with fitness meals you get all the nutrients your body needs to power through your workouts.

Be Realistic

When it comes to fitness you need to be realistic. Whether your ultimate goal is to compete in different types of competitions or it’s to just lose weight and get back into shape, realistic goals will help keep you in check and motivated too. If you expect to lose twenty pounds in two weeks, that might be pushing it, but ten to fifteen a month is reasonable. Likewise, if you’re starting today, you might not make this years competition, but you will be in top condition for next year’s!

So whatever your reasoning for wanting to smash it at the gym and get healthy, hopefully these tips and ideas will go a ways toward helping you create a great exercise and healthy eating plan that suits your needs, goals and schedule. Keep in mind that not every goal needs to be smashed this week or even this month – slow and steady wins the race!

Amazing Advantages of Online Yoga Classes

April 30, 2019 by Mandy

Practicing yoga is an incredible way to get in-tune with your body, promote well-being and to unwind from daily stress. As well, regular yoga practice has many health benefits including relief from aches and pains, improve flexibility, lower the blood pressure, tone the muscles and improve the metabolism. Yoga can also be performed basically anywhere, especially online yoga classes. In fact, online classes have countless advantages that can’t be found in a regular classroom.

A Whole Lot Cheaper

Online yoga classes are a lot more economical than classes offered at a gym or spa. In comparison, online classes are way more than half the price of in person programs. Depending on where you live, the average yoga lesson is $20 per hour. Online classes are generally less than $20 per month. In fact, sites like Glo offer discounted classes and even free trials for new memberships.

Online Classes save Time and Frustration

Going to a classroom takes a lot of time and effort. A typical routine may include packing your yoga bag, loading the car, driving to class, finding a parking space, walking in and then changing into your workout clothes. Equally, the whole routine process is reversed when the class is finished. In contrast, online yoga classes can be done anywhere and anytime. For relaxation and ease, yoga can easily be performed in the comfort of your own home. If you prefer something more rejuvenating, try yoga in a remote field of wildflowers that’s off a mountain trail.

Unlimited Flexibility

Unlike standard classes that are limited to a specific day and time, online yoga classes are available whenever you need them. In fact, online classes have a lot of flexibility. You can choose how long you want to practice such as 5 minutes or 90. Likewise, you can set the pace and fitness level from tranquil meditation to a full coarse workout. What is more, online classes allow you to choose the style that fits your needs. At Glo they offer 12 styles such as Hatha, Ashtanga, Kundalini, Iyengar and more.

Less Intimidating and More Beneficial

For some, walking into a yoga class can be a little intimidating. In fact, it is not uncommon for many students to feel awkward when it comes to comprehending the instructions, doing the poses or wearing the “appropriate” clothes. With online classes you can relax and let down your shoulders. Anxieties are not a factor when you practice yoga in your own home or in your favorite “hideout” location. What’s more, without the anxiety you can relax and focus better; progress will come much faster and easier.

Access to Incredible Teachers

Your basic yoga class will typically have one teacher who knows only one style of yoga. On the other hand, online yoga classes have some of the best teachers in the world. For instance, Glo has an amazing array of instructors that are renowned for their expertise. Moreover, their teachers have an extensive background such as Shiatsu, energy bodywork, sport medicine, yoga conditioning, mat Pilates, prenatal yoga and more. In fact, Glo firmly believes that if you find your teacher; you will find your flow.

When it comes to online yoga classes, Glo offers some of the best classes around. Not only are they affordable but their yoga classes are accessible on many devices. Their mission is to create intelligent tools that challenge people to live a fulfilling life. Glo can be used on any mobile device or computer. As well, there are dedicated apps for iPhones, iPads, Apple TV and Chromecast. To help get you started on your journey to well-being, you can select from a variety of programs from beginner to advanced, the choice is yours.